Giro d’Italia stage winner Matteo Sobrero displayed Team Jayco AlUla’s determination and resilience today, fighting back from some bad luck that the team has suffered the past days, to take a brilliant second place finish on stage nine.
The Italian launched himself in to the day’s breakaway having tried time and time again each stage, and finally today the move stuck.
On the steep ramps up to the hill top finish in Collado de la Cruz de Caravaca, Sobrero was attentive in the wheels as the attacks began. Lennard Kamna jumped away and opened up a gap with Sobrero fighting to get on to terms. The remaining kilometres remained the same as the Team Jayco AlUla rider fought with each pedal stroke to claw his way back up to Kamna and in the end, had to settle for a brace and well fought second place.
Heading into tomorrow’s rest day, the Australian outfit remain confident and ready to continue to race on the offensive in the final two weeks.
Matteo Sobrero – 2nd place
“I did my best it was a really hectic day that started with echelons, a really stressful day and on the first climb I tried to make the break, and it was the first goal of the day.
Once I was in the break I was checking who was there and of course I put my eyes on Kamna, I knew he was the strongest on an uphill like this.
We started playing a little bit at the bottom of the climb, I wasn’t sure how I was feeling and after nine stages it is difficult to see how everyone is and there could be a surprise.
In the end, I tried to do my best and he (Kamna) attacked. I couldn’t close the attack by just 50 metres and we stayed the same distance for almost all the time.
It was so hard, i did my best and I am happy with this. We still have two weeks left of this Vuelta so we will see.”
La Vuelta a España stage 9 results:
- Lennard Kamna 4:28:59
- Matteo Sobrero (Team Jayco AlUla) 0:13
- Chris Hamilton 1:21
